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ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND
Corresponding Author:
The word Yoga originates from the Sanskrit word “Yuj” means to attach, join, Yoke or
Dr. Anjali Ambadas Vagga,
“Yuj” Samadhi. Yoga asanas twist the internal organs, strengthen muscles and
102, Vastu-Vishaw Apartment,
increases circulation. Breathing technique and meditation also release stress and Dream Land City, Near Nagpur Bypass,
improve immunity. Health is our wealth. This difficult time can be utilized for building Sawangi-442001, Wardha,
physical and mental health. The rule of social distancing which has been in action is a Maharashtra, India.
great facility that provides natural support to immune system and to build the mental E-mail: anjalivagga@gmail.com
health. It also gives more time to be with your family and keep yourselves occupied
with productive activities. The term “meditation” usually refers to a formal practice DOI: 10.14260/jemds/2020/552
that can give peace to the mind and increase awareness of our conscious, our mind
How to Cite This Article:
and our environment. Meditation in its many forms has been practiced over millions
Vagga AA, Dhok AJ. Blessings in disguise:
of years by diverse groups of people in many different traditions. Previously it was yoga and meditation during corona
practiced in the East, eventually has spread into Western countries and is lockdown. J Evolution Med Dent Sci
increasingly augmenting therapy. These days are very difficult to manage your mind. 2020;9(35):2540-2544, DOI:
So, meditation is the only useful activity that helps to overcome such a bad situation 10.14260/jemds/2020/552
(corona lockdown). One should do mindful meditation daily. Encourage kids, but do
not force them to do these activities. This study found that due to meditation, there is Submission 27-05-2020,
Peer Review 22-07-2020,
reduction in oxygen consumption, decreased heart rate, decreased respiration rate, Acceptance 29-07-2020,
enhanced carbon dioxide elimination, reduced cortical hormone level, decreased Published 31-08-2020.
blood lactate levels, and increased parasympathetic activity. An overall effect of
meditation is that it provides nutrition to your mind and brain. Meditation is a Copyright © 2020 JEMDS. This is an open
blessing in disguise in such crucial time. Regular practice of yoga and meditation help access article distributed under Creative
us to improve our quality of life. The purpose of this article is to describe what yoga Commons Attribution License [Attribution
4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)]
and meditation are, their practices and their effects on physical and mental health.
KEY WORDS
Yoga, Meditation, Corona, Lockdown, Benefits
J Evolution Med Dent Sci / eISSN- 2278-4802, pISSN- 2278-4748 / Vol. 9 / Issue 35 / Aug. 31, 2020 Page 2540
Jemds.com Review Article
Yoga is known to be as old as 8000 years.1 In the course of time, Is Corona Virus Lockdown Making You Anxious and
different yoga asanas have been devised which can restore and Depressed?
maintain health and can increase self-awareness and American Heart Association signifies the role of meditation in
consciousness. The meaning of yoga is union. The word yoga is cardiovascular disease. People living inside their homes due to
mentioned in a Sanskrit epic written in the second half of the the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown could benefit from yoga to
1st Millennium BCE and is associated with the philosophical boost immunity. Many people believed that yoga is just a
system presented in the yoga sutras of Patanjali with the chief posture, but it is not the truth. In fact, sufficient period of yoga
aim of uniting the human spirit with divine spirit.2 Yoga is and meditation practice helps to relieve or decrease the stress
basically a spiritual discipline based on an extremely divine levels. Indian American cardiologist Ray suggested that when
science, which focuses on bringing harmony between mind a person is in depression and anxiety, they have adverse
and body. It is an art and science of healthy living. Yoga brings effects physically and develop weak immunity towards viral
peace not only to the body in the form of asanas, but to the infections. When we forced the students to isolate and stay at
mind and emotional wellbeing too. Weight loss is one of the home in COVID-19 pandemic, it created anxiety and
beneficial effects of its regular practice. Regular practice of depression in some cases. Ray said that when the human body
yoga calms down the mind and reduces stress and increases is exposed to corona virus, the body will produce direct
wellness. antibodies which can react to protect the immune system.
This study found that due to meditation there is reduced
oxygen consumption, decreased heart rate, decreased
respiration rate, enhanced carbon dioxide elimination, Enhanced Blood Circulation with Yoga
reduced cortical hormone levels, decreased blood lactate Sun salutation or Surya Namaskar is the best set of yoga asana.
levels and increased parasympathetic activity. An overall This will reward you with physical and mental strength, give
effect of meditation is that it provides nutrition to your mind you command over your body, enhance blood circulation, calm
and brain. Mindfulness is being aware of the present moment. your mind, balance your energy levels and bring peace to your
During the global pandemic, initiating mindfulness and consciousness.
meditation practice is likely to complement therapies and is
also a beneficial method to provide support in anxiety attacks.3
Yoga and Meditation for Mind-body and Health
Surya namaskar includes 12 steps that makes half the
Many participants have reported that after yoga and
cycle:
meditation, there is positive effect on their physical and
1. Pranam asana
mental health. A research article published in Frontiers in
2. Hasta uttanasana
Human Neuroscience investigates the effects of yoga and
3. Padahast asana
meditation on brain derived neurotropic factor (BDNF), the
4. Ashwa sanchalanasana
activity on the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) effects
5. Santolan asana
and inflammatory markers. 38 participants practising 3-
6. Padahast asana
months of intense yoga and meditation retreat were assessed
7. Ashtanga namaskar asana
before and after the intervention. Researchers found that the
8. Bhujangasana
practices positively impacted BDNF signalling, the cortisol
9. Adhomukhasvanasana
awakening response (CAR) and immunological markers and in
10. Ashwa sanchalanasana
addition improved subjective wellbeing.7
11. Padahastasana
12. Hasta uttanasana.
J Evolution Med Dent Sci / eISSN- 2278-4802, pISSN- 2278-4748 / Vol. 9 / Issue 35 / Aug. 31, 2020 Page 2541
Jemds.com Review Article
How to Manage Depression and Anxiety overcome such bad situations; you need to do mindful
Poor mental health conditions including stress and depression meditation daily. Encourage kids, but do not force them to do
are known to increase the risk of acute respiratory these activities. There are various meditation methods that are
infections.11 Increasing numbers of corona virus infections and easily available online. This is an unprecedented situation at
mortality triggers stress and anxiety. This is due to isolation least for the new generation, not only for an individual or a
and depression because of mandatory social distancing nation but for the entire humanity. Besides the fear of
measures. Nonetheless, the rule of social distancing that has infection, people have been confined to their homes. How
been in action nowadays is a great facility that provides would spirituality help to overcome from present situation?
natural support to immune system and build mental health. It Protect yourself and support others. Assist others in their time
also gives more time to be with your family and keep of need to benefit both the person receiving support and
giving. Minimize watching, reading or listening to news about
yourselves occupied with productive activities, including
COVID-19 that makes you feel anxious or distressed. Take
group activities with your family members such as playing
practical steps to prepare your plans, protect yourself and the
cards, listening to music, singing, cooking and sharing your
loved ones. Collect information from WHO website and local
thoughts etc.
health member forums in order to help you distinguish facts
from rumours, as facts can help to minimize fears.14
J Evolution Med Dent Sci / eISSN- 2278-4802, pISSN- 2278-4748 / Vol. 9 / Issue 35 / Aug. 31, 2020 Page 2544